ION INDIE MAGAZINE September 2015, Volume 16 | Page 62

CW: What’s your favorite band to play on the same bill with? Phil: THE FOO FIGHTERS! (He answered so quick the question was barely out) We just have a lot of respect for them. I think they play honestly--they play hard. They reinvent themselves…they’re not “careful”. There are a few others—THE BLACK KEYS, MUSE--U2 still hasn’t called to open for us, but if they do, we would love to be on a bill with them, you know. There’s a lot of bands we would love to open for--the list goes on, RIVAL SONS is one, I would LOVE to play with them. CW: I hear a lot of talk about a new album. I am told you will be playing some songs tonight. When can we expect it? Phil: It is a rebirth of the band. We are a different band since we started working with this new producer out of Memphis, JUSTIN RIMER, and I think he brings out the best out of us, and we bring the best in him. It’s been a fun record…it fucking rocks! CW: So when are we going to hear it? Phil: I’m not sure. I know we are taking off a couple weeks in August, but not sure when it will come out. We have never done this before. We will see what Jesse (Dupree) says. Jesse manages us. He’s pretty good at mapping out time lines and stuff. CW: So JESSE DUPREE is your full manager? Phil: Yes CW: If you could play a sold out venue anywhere in the world, where would it be? Phil: ROYAL ALBERT HALL…I mean Zeppelin choose it, so… CW: The little bit you’re not on the road, what do you like to do that doesn’t involve music? Phil: When I go home, I have two dogs that I see a couple times a year. I like to take them out for a walk. I like to go out and see Bluegrass music…go for hikes in the mountains. Currently, I am going home to North Carolina; I will go to the mountains. I love breweries--I love to drink a couple really strong beers. I eat a plant-based diet, which is really important to me, so when I go home I get to experiment with vegetables. And I know it sounds weird, but on the road it’s really hard. I usually end up just grabbing a banana instead of making up something like a really good beat and ginger juice, you know. I have a juicer on the road, but we have a lot of crew with us on the road now, so as we figure out the new bus and stuff, I’ll probably bust out the juicer. Eating right is so much easier when you’re at home and not on the road. But now, we even have a fridge. Our lives have changed in a big way with the new bus. CW: What song of yours do you really think connects with the fans the best?